Schalke's Uchida out for several weeks after injury blow

The defender has picked up a thigh problem and will spend the next few weeks on the sidelines due to the knock

Schalke coach Jens Keller is set to be without the services of Atsuto Achida for several weeks after the Japan international picked up a thigh injury.

The right-back has already missed his side's 4-0 Bundesliga loss against Bayern Munich due to physical problems, and underwent an MRI scan on Monday to determine the extent of the knock.

And Schalke have now announced that Achida has torn a muscle in his thigh and will be out of action for a number of weeks.

"Schalke 04 will be without Atsuto Uchida in the coming weeks. An MRI scan on Monday (11 February) revealed the Japan international has torn a muscle in his thigh," a statement on the club's official website reads.

Achida, 24, will consequently miss the first leg of Schalke's Champions League round of 16 match against Galatasaray, as well as the Bundesliga games versus Mainz and Fortuna Dusseldorf.